pharmacology question

J

JCEMTB

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I have not started my medic yet (my class starts July 10th woo!) So I do not have a very large knowledge base regarding pharmacology.

I noticed the other day that a pt. of mine had an allergy to morphine, however was prescribed tylenol #4's and hydrocodone. This made me curious, since the pt. is allergic to morphine, wouldn't the pt. also be allergic to other opiate drugs? I know codeine is metabolized into morphine via acetylation in the liver, so wouldn't that set off the allergic reaction as well? Wouldn't the hydrocodone do the same thing?
 
Was it the patient actually allergic to morphine or just had a sensitivity that was being called an "allergy?"
 
sometimes its the serum that the med is in that is the allergy or the preservatives....not always the actual med
 
I think it is the chemical makeup of the drug. Someone's immune system may overreact to Morphine but then a dose of Meperdine might be fine.

Also if the drugs were oral then they take a big beat down by the liver and may not cause a reaction as you might see with parenteral meds.

On our trucks we have Meperdine and we can give it if the patient is allergic to morphine, we also carry Fentanyl.
 
Allergies are typically based off the chemical makeup of a drug and not just the family of drugs, so you can be allergic or hypersensitive to morphine but not to other narcotics.
 
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medicRob said:
Was the pt allergic to morphine itself or sulfa compounds, aka. sulfate salts.
Click to expand...

It just said morphine, nothing about morphine sulfate. But sulfate and sulfa drugs differ in their chemical makeup don't they?

Anywho, thanks for the input everyone, I was just curious and it was a question that was kind of nagging at me.
 
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This PDF has some good info in regards to your question.

Maybe that will help :)
 
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